Monday, August 13, 2007

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know how utterly thrilled I am to be writing the following words: I have finished the Jaywalkers. This project had been on my needles for over 14 months and taunted me at every turn. But now I have subdued them into submission, and I owe it all to my trusty Hitachi Magic Wand Magic Loop method! You see, I started these socks in the B.M.L.* era and made scant progress on them. Indeed I spent many hours toiling away on these. After what would seem like an eternity, I'd look up from my work, which was starting to feel like a sort of knitting chain gang, only to discover that I had knit an inch at the most.Enter the size 1 Addi Turbo (40 inches--because I am a size queen). Hello sailor! Yes, this past weekend my Magic Loop and I were able to make mincemeat of the Jaywalkers . And I am delighted.The SpecsPattern: The JaywalkersYarn: Opal Hand painted. I began this project so long ago that the person who hand painted the skein is most likely pushing up daisies. But I think the color is #20.Needles: First they were on size 1 dpns. Two of them broke, and the manufacturer replaced them. Then I wised up and broke out the Loop. Nirvana ensued.Notes: The socks are tight as hell, so they are destined for a friend with a dainty foot. If there is ever a next time, I'll definitely use a softer yarn like maybe Sundara or Brooklyn Handspun. The Opal Hand painted was too twine-like for my tastes.

*Before Magic Loop era. A time when knitting was dominated by frustration, sluggishness and a general lack of progress. Also referred to as the Dark Ages and the Sad period.

I am sure many of you remember my super pal Kenric. You know, the guy who knit a purse in a day after about 4 minutes of knitting instruction? Well, he's become very active in The Lifestyle. He has knit about 3 more purses. He has joined a Men's Knitting Group in San Jose. He has made friends with other local knitters and is making plans for an LYS yarn crawl. He is on Ravelry--check him out! He is making a cabled sweater. Yeah, his first sweater has cables. Alice Starmore you better watch out, sister, because I'm sure he'll be doing stranding before Labor Day.

Good for you, showing those Jaywalkers who is boss. There's nothing you and your Magic Loop can't do. (Is it just me, or does that sound vaguely dirty??) As for Kenric - I'm green with envy over his knitting abilities.

Hitachi Magic Wand...you crack me up! Congrats on finishing the Jaywalkers. I ripped mine and haven't started another pair yet. I think that the pattern is so simple that I don't pay attention and then--BAM--I've screwed up.

You and Kenric are making ME feel like a slothful and slovenly girl with all your productivity. My #%$@ jaywalkers are still languishing in my UFO basket. I made the mistake of knitting mine in cotton. Stiff, rigid, dastardly cotton!!! So magic loop is the answer hein?

Hiiiiiiii!!!!!!! Oh how I've missed my blog pals. I love your socks and the 2 sweaters! They are absolutely adorable! Kenric is amazing! I can't believe his first sweater has cables! Well, you know men were the first knitters (I've been told). Before you know it, we'll be seeing Kenric's original patterns/designs in magazines and runways.

I am SOOOO with you on the ML and BML dark ages. I fiddled with dpns for approximately 5.2 seconds before I said, there's GOT to be a better way. Discovery of 1.) extra short circ - not.good - major hand pain 2.) 2 circs and best of all 3.) the wonderful ML method ensued.

Yay Kenric - LOL at "become active in The Lifestyle". It so is The Lifestyle. I think, talk, read and write about it all the time even when I'm not actually doing it - I think that Lifestyle is a good way to sum it up.

Maybe I will try magic loop someday, but I love my dpns. I enjoy working with them. That Kenric must be cool. My first sweater was color work and the second was cables. A real life Aran. I like Kenric already....

yay, all your hard work finally prevailed! woohoo! those are some damn fine daywalkers, if i do say so myself.

and yeah, jaywalkers are tight. there are a few pair that require the jaws of life to take on and off. ;) the one tip i can pass along for you on your next pair is to use a sock yarn that is slightly thinner gauge than your average sock yarn (like opal). like lorna's laces or brooklyn handspun's signature sock yarn (like you mentioned on your post). i have jaywalkers knit up in both and they both fit like a dream. the thinner yarn means fabric with a little more give. :)

Gorgeous Jaywalkers! I did mine on magic loop from start to finish and those socks still kicked my ass. I think I had Jaywalker mental block. I'm so impressed with Kenric's knitting abilities! He's definitely a Knitter.